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The Swinging Sixties in St. Louis: A City of Cultural Revolution, Civil Rights, and Space Exploration

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The 1960s were a time of profound change and upheaval in the United States, and St. Louis played a significant role in shaping the era’s cultural, social, and technological developments. The city witnessed the civil rights movement, the rise of the counterculture, and the booming space industry. Let’s journey back to the 1960s and immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, and spirit of St. Louis during this transformative decade.

The Civil Rights Movement

The 1960s were a crucial period for the civil rights movement, and St. Louis was at the forefront of this struggle for equality. The city was home to influential figures like Percy Green, a civil rights activist who led protests and demonstrations to fight for racial equality and end segregation. These protests and demonstrations eventually led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Counterculture Revolution

The 1960s also saw the rise of the counterculture, with young people across the country rejecting the values and norms of the previous generation. St. Louis was no exception to this trend, with the city becoming a hub for artists, musicians, and activists who sought to challenge the status quo and explore new ideas.

The city’s vibrant music scene significantly influenced this cultural revolution. Local bands like the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Mama’s Pride blended rock, blues, and country to create a unique sound that captured the spirit of the time. Music venues like the Castaway Club and the Coral Court Motel hosted live performances, providing a space for the city’s youth to come together and express themselves.

The Space Race and McDonnell Aircraft Corporation

St. Louis also played a crucial role in the United States’ efforts to conquer space during the 1960s. Based in the city, the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation significantly contributed to the space program, designing and manufacturing the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft that carried America’s first astronauts into orbit.

The city’s residents took immense pride in their contribution to the space program, with the success of the Mercury and Gemini missions bolstering St. Louis’s reputation as a center of innovation and technological prowess. The space race helped define the city’s identity during the 1960s, with the spirit of exploration and discovery permeating every aspect of life in St. Louis.

#4 Lines Outside Busch Stadium at Baseball Clinic, 1960

Lines Outside Busch Stadium at Baseball Clinic, 1960

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#5 Peaceful Picketing At The Jefferson Bank and Trust Company, 1960

Peaceful Picketing At The Jefferson Bank and Trust Company, 1960

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#10 People stand in line for food stamps at St. Louis Food Stamp Office, 1325 North Grand Avenue, 1960

People stand in line for food stamps at St. Louis Food Stamp Office, 1325 North Grand Avenue, 1960

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#13 View of Airport Terminal Building and parking area, Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport, 1960

View of Airport Terminal Building and parking area, Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport, 1960

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#15 Roosevelt High School, 3220 Hartford St., St. Louis, 1960

Roosevelt High School, 3220 Hartford St., St. Louis, 1960

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#17 St. Catherine Hall, Marillac College, St. Louis, Missouri, 1960

St. Catherine Hall, Marillac College, St. Louis, Missouri, 1960

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#18 Schober’s Wine Restaurants, 6925 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 1960

Schober's Wine Restaurants, 6925 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 1960

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#29 Anheuser-Busch Brewery – Celebratory Arch, St. Louis, 1960

Anheuser-Busch Brewery - Celebratory Arch, St. Louis, 1960

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#31 Detective Checks for Fingerprints at Mercantile Trust Company, 1960

Detective Checks for Fingerprints at Mercantile Trust Company, 1960

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#32 Huge crowd crossing street at 7th and Washington downtown Friday as the biggest shopping Day of 1968 resulted in stores packed to the doors, 1960

Huge crowd crossing street at 7th and Washington downtown Friday as the biggest shopping Day of 1968 resulted in stores packed to the doors, 1960

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#34 Plaza Apartments – Rented like hotel suites, 1960

Plaza Apartments - Rented like hotel suites, 1960

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#43 City Bank, which moved into new quarters at 4981 West Pine, 1960

City Bank, which moved into new quarters at 4981 West Pine, 1960

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#46 Workmen sitting idle in the 1600 block of Pine because of strike of hoisting engineers of local 513 which has halted work on Plaza Apartments, 1960

Workmen sitting idle in the 1600 block of Pine because of strike of hoisting engineers of local 513 which has halted work on Plaza Apartments, 1960

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#47 Plaza Apartments – Looking east near 18th & Pine, 1960

Plaza Apartments - Looking east near 18th & Pine, 1960

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#50 Administration Building At Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 1960

Administration Building At Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 1960

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#52 Dr. John Whitney, president of the Heritage House Board of Directors and W. Palmer Oliver, 1960

Dr. John Whitney, president of the Heritage House Board of Directors and W. Palmer Oliver, 1960

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#53 Resembling a huge billboard is steel framework of Heritage House, a 19-story retirement community under construction, 1960

Resembling a huge billboard is steel framework of Heritage House, a 19-story retirement community under construction, 1960

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#55 Alpha Garden Apartments at Hodiamont and Etzel avenues, 1960

Alpha Garden Apartments at Hodiamont and Etzel avenues, 1960

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#57 Lindell Terrace Apartments on Lindell Blvd. and Taylor Ave, 1960

Lindell Terrace Apartments on Lindell Blvd. and Taylor Ave, 1960

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#58 Patrolman stands guard at walk up window of the Gateway Bank, 3412 Union where two holdup men held Peggy Squires, bank teller, 1960

Patrolman stands guard at walk up window of the Gateway Bank, 3412 Union where two holdup men held Peggy Squires, bank teller, 1960

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#59 Waldorf Plaza Apartments, at 4011 Delmar bl. containing 100 apartments 1960

Waldorf Plaza Apartments, at 4011 Delmar bl. containing 100 apartments 1960

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#60 Town House Apartments on 2nd and 3rd roof levels, 1960

Town House Apartments on 2nd and 3rd roof levels, 1960

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#61 University Heights Apartments – Approaching completion, 1960

University Heights Apartments - Approaching completion, 1960

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#62 Signing of the Corner Stone for the New Mansion House Apartments, 1960

Signing of the Corner Stone for the New Mansion House Apartments, 1960

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#63 Grand Tower Apartments Campus Expansion St. Louis University, 1960

Grand Tower Apartments Campus Expansion St. Louis University, 1960

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#65 Nearing Completion Ahead of Schedule are the Grand Forest low-rise apartments in the Mill Creek Valley west of Compton avenue, 1960

Nearing Completion Ahead of Schedule are the Grand Forest low-rise apartments in the Mill Creek Valley west of Compton avenue, 1960

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#67 Marmaduke Apartments – Building Bought For Aged Project, 1960

Marmaduke Apartments - Building Bought For Aged Project, 1960

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#68 First National Bank in St. Louis proposed new store and office building at the southeast corner of Sixth and Locust streets is scheduled for completion, 1962.

First National Bank in St. Louis proposed new store and office building at the southeast corner of Sixth and Locust streets is scheduled for completion, 1962.

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#69 Boatmen’s Bank – Routed By Ammonia Fumes, 1960

Boatmen's Bank - Routed By Ammonia Fumes, 1960

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#73 Chippewa Trust Company, 3803 South Broadway, 1960

Chippewa Trust Company, 3803 South Broadway, 1960

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#75 Boatmen’s Bank – Third and Washington At Time of Spanish-American War, 1949

Boatmen's Bank - Third and Washington At Time of Spanish-American War, 1949

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#78 The railings along the eastbound lanes of the new Chain of Rocks Bridge (Interstate 270), which spans the Mississippi River in North St. Louis, 1960

The railings along the eastbound lanes of the new Chain of Rocks Bridge (Interstate 270), which spans the Mississippi River in North St. Louis, 1960

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#79 Recently Completed Improvement Of The Cypress Road Bridge, 1960

Recently Completed Improvement Of The Cypress Road Bridge, 1960

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#81 Link Between Poplar Street Bridge and Daniel Boone Bridge, 1960

Link Between Poplar Street Bridge and Daniel Boone Bridge, 1960

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#83 Front view of the old Jefferson Club building, southwest corner of Grand boulevard and Pine street, 1960

Front view of the old Jefferson Club building, southwest corner of Grand boulevard and Pine street, 1960

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#84 The ornate Singer Building, Broadway and Locust, was downtown’s pride during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration, 1960

The ornate Singer Building, Broadway and Locust, was downtown's pride during the Rutherford B. Hayes administration, 1960

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#86 Old landmark of North St. Louis at 3900 Natural Bridge avenue, 1960

Old landmark of North St. Louis at 3900 Natural Bridge avenue, 1960

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#87 The Republic Building, 1960. When this building was completed on the southeast corner of Third and Chestnut in 1873, it was called “one of the largest and finest newspaper establishments.

The Republic Building, 1960. When this building was completed on the southeast corner of Third and Chestnut in 1873, it was called "one of the largest and finest newspaper establishments.

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#88 Tradition claims this structure, erected at Third and Plum in the 1770s, to be St. Louis’ first Court House under United States rule after 1804.

Tradition claims this structure, erected at Third and Plum in the 1770s, to be St. Louis' first Court House under United States rule after 1804.

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#89 Palace Stables of 1880s at 2938 Olive. Most stables ignored threat of the horseless carriage, 1960

Palace Stables of 1880s at 2938 Olive. Most stables ignored threat of the horseless carriage, 1960

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#91 The Old United States Customs House and Post Office, 1960

The Old United States Customs House and Post Office, 1960

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#92 Construction Of East Approach To The Poplar Street Bridge, 1966

Construction Of East Approach To The Poplar Street Bridge, 1966

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#94 Weaving Highway Ramps–Poplar Street Bridge, 1960

Weaving Highway Ramps--Poplar Street Bridge, 1960

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#95 Anheuser-Busch Brewery – New Office Plans, 1960

Anheuser-Busch Brewery - New Office Plans, 1960

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#97 Anheuser-Busch Brewery – Landmark Ceremonies, 1967

Anheuser-Busch Brewery - Landmark Ceremonies, 1967

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#98 Work progresses on the new approach to link MacArthur Bridge directly to Chouteau avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets, 1960

Work progresses on the new approach to link MacArthur Bridge directly to Chouteau avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets, 1960

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#101 The Kroger Company recently sold these office and warehouse facilities at 1311 South Thirty-ninth street, 1960

The Kroger Company recently sold these office and warehouse facilities at 1311 South Thirty-ninth street, 1960

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#102 Three moving vans shttled the whole night through one night this week to install Americaan Zinc Company in its shining new American Zinc Building at 20 South Fourth street, 1960

Three moving vans shttled the whole night through one night this week to install Americaan Zinc Company in its shining new American Zinc Building at 20 South Fourth street, 1960

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#104 Mill Creek Valley, 1960. Town house development in Mill Creek Valley has enough applications to fill all of the 279 units

Mill Creek Valley, 1960. Town house development in Mill Creek Valley has enough applications to fill all of the 279 units

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#108 William Trantina, acting Director of Public Safety, at the scene of the collapsed building, 1209 Chouteau ave., 1960

William Trantina, acting Director of Public Safety, at the scene of the collapsed building, 1209 Chouteau ave., 1960

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#109 Palm Street Building Collapsed – Four Children Injured, 1960

Palm Street Building Collapsed - Four Children Injured, 1960

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#110 Leisure Lounge Wreckage – Chouteau Avenue, 1960

Leisure Lounge Wreckage - Chouteau Avenue, 1960

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#111 Benedictine Sisters Convent’s Mother-house and Novitiate, 1960

Benedictine Sisters Convent's Mother-house and Novitiate, 1960

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#112 A.D. Brown Building located at 12th and Washington, 1960

A.D. Brown Building located at 12th and Washington, 1960

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#113 Iron workers going into the Iron Workers Union Hall for a meeting, 1960

Iron workers going into the Iron Workers Union Hall for a meeting, 1960

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#114 Iron workers going into the Iron Workers Union Hall for a meeting, 1960

Iron workers going into the Iron Workers Union Hall for a meeting, 1960

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#115 Jefferson Bank and Trust-Dancing Demonstrators, 1960

Jefferson Bank and Trust-Dancing Demonstrators, 1960

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#117 House Construction Collapse – Henrietta Street, 1960

House Construction Collapse - Henrietta Street, 1960

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#119 Dedication Ceremony for New Employment Security Building, 1960

Dedication Ceremony for New Employment Security Building, 1960

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#123 System and Transurban Redevelopment Corporation of St. Louis will erect this 20-level office building at Third and Market in the new riverfront area near the Gateway Arch and Sports Stadium.

System and Transurban Redevelopment Corporation of St. Louis will erect this 20-level office building at Third and Market in the new riverfront area near the Gateway Arch and Sports Stadium.

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#125 North East corner of Broadway and Washington, 1960

North East corner of Broadway and Washington, 1960

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#128 Another Line of People Waiting to Visit Main Street, 1960

Another Line of People Waiting to Visit Main Street, 1960

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#130 Riverfront Old Pix Bardenheier Wine & Liquor,1960

Riverfront Old Pix Bardenheier Wine & Liquor,1960

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#132 Traffic jam at 12th and Clark, showing line of cars trying to get on City Hall parking lot, 1960

Traffic jam at 12th and Clark, showing line of cars trying to get on City Hall parking lot, 1960

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#134 The new Anheuser-Busch office building is expected to be completed by January 15, 1969.

The new Anheuser-Busch office building is expected to be completed by January 15, 1969.

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#136 Catholic Chancery Office Building, 1960. Nearing Completion is the chancery buiding to house administrative headquarters of the St. Louis Catholic Archdiocese.

Catholic Chancery Office Building, 1960. Nearing Completion is the chancery buiding to house administrative headquarters of the St. Louis Catholic Archdiocese.

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#137 But City Official Sees Blue, Situation at Century Foundry, 1960

But City Official Sees Blue, Situation at Century Foundry, 1960

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#141 Halfway To Shambles,1968. This seven-story building at 10th and Lucas streets is being demolished and a parking lot will be built on the site, according to a spokesman for the Hayden Lumber and Wrecking Co. of East St. Louis.

Halfway To Shambles,1968. This seven-story building at 10th and Lucas streets is being demolished and a parking lot will be built on the site, according to a spokesman for the Hayden Lumber and Wrecking Co. of East St. Louis.

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#143 Tenement building owned by firm which Alderman Alfred I. Harris heads is at 4382-88 St. Louis, 1960

Tenement building owned by firm which Alderman Alfred I. Harris heads is at 4382-88 St. Louis, 1960

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#146 New Industrial Building In Mill Creek Valley, 1962

New Industrial Building In Mill Creek Valley, 1962

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#147 Sixth and Locust, northwest corner. St. Louis first skyscraper made this rather abbreviated appearance in 1878 when Paul Harvey & Co. was selling furnaces, ranges, and stoves at 523 Locust across the street.

Sixth and Locust, northwest corner. St. Louis first skyscraper made this rather abbreviated appearance in 1878 when Paul Harvey & Co. was selling furnaces, ranges, and stoves at 523 Locust across the street.

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#149 Blowing smoke is the Century Foundry at 3711 Market st., 1961

Blowing smoke is the Century Foundry at 3711 Market st., 1961

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#150 Aerial Picture of Gateway Arch and Busch Memorial Stadium, 1960

Aerial Picture of Gateway Arch and Busch Memorial Stadium, 1960

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#151 Catholic Parents and Children Picketing The Chancery, 1969

Catholic Parents and Children Picketing The Chancery, 1969

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#152 Concordia Turners School of Physical Training, 1963

Concordia Turners School of Physical Training, 1963

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#153 Scene of Dust Blast was a grain elevator at 7900 Van Buren St., which was leased by the Continental Grain Company, 1962

Scene of Dust Blast was a grain elevator at 7900 Van Buren St., which was leased by the Continental Grain Company, 1962

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#154 Sold under foreclosure Thursday was the Continental Building at 3615 Olive street, 1962

Sold under foreclosure Thursday was the Continental Building at 3615 Olive street, 1962

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#157 A four-way cross, designed to look the same from all points of the compass, 1962

A four-way cross, designed to look the same from all points of the compass, 1962

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#161 The Well-Built Curran Printing Co. Building, 1967

The Well-Built Curran Printing Co. Building, 1967

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#163 Lights Burning in the New Federal Building, 1964

Lights Burning in the New Federal Building, 1964

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#165 Crime Alert 1967: Al Kopilevitz and Francis Woodworth- Carr and 23rd

Crime Alert 1967: Al Kopilevitz and Francis Woodworth- Carr and 23rd

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#166 Luxury apartments to be built at 4466 West Pine bl.Architect’s drawing (obverse), 1962

Luxury apartments to be built at 4466 West Pine bl.Architect's drawing (obverse), 1962

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#168 Residents Sit Poolside at the Mansion House Apartments, 1967

Residents Sit Poolside at the Mansion House Apartments, 1967

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#177 New Headquarters for the Farm Credit Banks of St. Louis, 1966

New Headquarters for the Farm Credit Banks of St. Louis, 1966

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#179 Graduation Day For Players’ Conditioning Class, 1961

Graduation Day For Players' Conditioning Class, 1961

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#193 Street Dept. Facility located at 2604 Hampton, 1960

Street Dept. Facility located at 2604 Hampton, 1960

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#203 Fourth street looking north from Olive showing Everett House on right with porch, 1960

Fourth street looking north from Olive showing Everett House on right with porch, 1960

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#205 Once one of old St. Louis’ better known hotels, on Fourth between Morgan (now Delmar) and Franklin, the St., 1960

Once one of old St. Louis' better known hotels, on Fourth between Morgan (now Delmar) and Franklin, the St., 1960

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#215 F. W. Drosten was at 619 Olive. 3rd door west of Barr’s Dry Goods Co., 1960

F. W. Drosten was at 619 Olive. 3rd door west of Barr's Dry Goods Co., 1960

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#218 Arrows point to “Two Way Traffic-Keep Right” signs (enlargement below) on south curb at Branch street at west branch of Branch street exit from Interstate 70, 1960

Arrows point to "Two Way Traffic-Keep Right" signs (enlargement below) on south curb at Branch street at west branch of Branch street exit from Interstate 70, 1960

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#220 Bethesda Town House, divisionof Bethesda General Hospital, 1960

Bethesda Town House, divisionof Bethesda General Hospital, 1960

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#221 Union Station, Market Street — 18th to 20th sts., Saint Louis, 1960

Union Station, Market Street -- 18th to 20th sts., Saint Louis, 1960

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#222 Terminal, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, 1960

Terminal, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, 1960

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#223 Henrici’s restaurant and cocktail lounge, 1960

Henrici's restaurant and cocktail lounge, 1960

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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